Safe Riding in 2017!

Here at Georgia on Two Wheels, we watch motorcycle trends, including such things as safer riding and how to avoid injury. As we come to the close of 2016, our hope is that this past year’s statistics on how riders fared across the country will be an improvement over 2015. We will not know that for a while as the statistics are gathered and published early next year. Our further hope is that 2017 is the safest year ever for both bike riders and bicyclists.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) reviews and analyzes statistics on motorcycle riding in America. They also keep track of how safety measures help avoid injury and keep riders safer on the roads with other vehicles. We often share stories of riders who have been seriously or fatally injured while doing something they love … riding. We share them to make our readers more aware of what they can do to stay safe on their rides. We know for example, that many serious or fatal bike crashes happen while riders are traveling through, or turning at, intersections. We also know that helmet use can help protect riders. Whether you ride once a month or every day, we want all riders to make sure they know the latest data on how to avoid serious injury. The IIHS has recently noted what the federal government has reported … riders are significantly more likely to be injured or lose their lives than those in cars.

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) noted in 2015 that a over 4,550 motorcyclists lost their lives in accidents in that year. Although fatal motorcycle crashes declined in the early 1980’s, that decline turned into a steady increase until 2008. The increase has leveled out in the past few years. Out of all fatal motor vehicle crashes in 2015, about 13 percent were those riding motorcycles. Last year, nearly 30 percent of those fatally injured were those who did not hold a valid driver’s license, while only 15 percent of those fatally injured in other motor vehicles did not hold a driver’s license. Another interesting statistic is that in 2015 about 30 percent of fatally injured motorcyclists were under the age of 30. In 1975, 80 percent of fatally injured motorcyclists were under the age of 30.

Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety states that helmet use lowers the risk of head injury by about 70 percent and reduce the risk of fatal injury by over 40 percent. The cause of this alarming statistic has mostly to do with head injuries … something that can be reduced with the use of a helmet. Although many states still do not mandate helmet use, most Americans are in favor of it. We have worked with many families who are dealing with the results of head injuries, whether after a car or truck or motorcycle crash. We know the devastation of these injuries.

Scholle Law wishes all our readers a happy, healthy 2017. We are here to support the motorcycle and bicycle riding communities when you need us most, after an injury or accident. Contact our law offices for information at no charge to you. We will give you a free evaluation of your accident and if we represent you, in most cases we only get monetary compensation after you are compensated.